Wake retiring Chris Paul's No. 3 jersey

Former Wake Forest star Chris Paul sits with his son Christopher Emmanuel Paul II, left, as Paul's wife holds a Chris Paul mask during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game between Wake Forest and Maryland in Winston-Salem, N.C., Saturday, March 2, 2013. Maryland won 67-57. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

The school honored the point guard and NBA All-Star game MVP during halftime of the Maryland-Wake Forest game Saturday.

During a pregame news conference, the Winston-Salem native repeatedly referred to the city and campus as "home" and said he keeps a 336 phone number — this city's area code. He says the honor is more special to him "because it's home."

His banner was unfurled next to his college coach's — the late Skip Prosser. They led the Demon Deacons to their first No. 1 ranking in 2004-05. Paul left school after two seasons and was the NBA's rookie of the year in 2006 with New Orleans.